Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps her Department is taking to support the development of hydro-pumped storage projects.

The Department of Energy and Climate Change recognises the potential role that cost effective energy storage could play in contributing to a resilient, affordable and low carbon energy system in the UK.

DECC has provided more than £18m of innovation support since 2012 to develop and demonstrate a range of energy storage technologies. This support has included a grant to a UK pumped hydro storage company to analyse the potential for wider deployment of new pumped hydro storage facilities in novel sites around Great Britain – for example, in disused quarries or other brownfield sites or using drinking water reservoirs.

DECC is in regular dialogue with prospective developers of new pumped hydro storage projects, and is keen to understand the extent to which any barriers to deployment can be overcome in a way that is affordable to the bill payer.